Germany's football president has insisted his country are against enlarging the World Cup to include 48 teams.

Reinhard Grindel said in an interview published on the federation's website that FIFA proposals to enlarge the tournament from 32 teams to 40 or 48 'have considerable weaknesses that are also clearly shown in FIFA factsheets.'

Grindel says, 'At the DFB, we're fundamentally convinced that the tried and tested model of 32 participating nations should be held. The world championships were always tournaments that inspired, why should that change?'

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has suggested expanding the World Cup to include 48 teams

German football president Reinhard Grindel has insisted his country are against the plans

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The DFB president warns that the quality of the tournament could suffer in the game's core markets if more participants are added, and that conflicts could emerge between national teams and clubs 'if we overburden the players.'

FIFA president Gianni Infantino initially brought up the notion of expanding the tournament in October and believes the plan has support. He is set to present his proposals at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich next week.

'Whether it will be 40 or 48, it was a positive discussion. I don't agree it will dilute the quality,' Infantino said.

Germany are the current World Cup champions after their triumph in Brazil in 2014

Infantino is set to present his plans at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich from January 9

'I would like to remind you that in the last World Cup, England and Italy were eliminated by Costa Rica. The level of football is increasing all over the world.

'In a 48-team format, the quality would be higher because the 32 teams would have a play off. The quality would improve and not decrease in any way.'

Infantino has suggested that the format of the competition could change from eight groups of four teams to 16 groups of three. That would mean some nations being drawn into Group P during the first round.